Mayor Walsh Announces Celebration of Lights, 12th Annual Holiday Special

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined the Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment, luminARTZ, ArtsBoston and the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau to announce new and returning holiday season initiatives for residents and visitors of Boston to enjoy. 

"We are proud to have strong partners like luminARTZ, ArtsBoston, the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Highland Street Foundation, to provide our City's residents and visitors with countless opportunities to experience Boston's arts and culture this holiday season," said Mayor Walsh. "By investing in our arts and tourism sector, we are fueling our local economy and creating a stronger Boston for generations to come." 

Mayor's Celebration of Lights 

Running December 17-20, 2015, The Mayor's Celebration of Lights, Lights of Boston presented by luminARTZ will transform the Dartmouth Street side of the Boston Public Library with 3D projections, sharing the message of peace, hope and unity each evening from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., looping every 10 minutes. The light installation is the first of its time in the United States, and is produced by artist Anthony Bastic of AGB Events best known for the Vivid Sydney Light Walk and the Lights of Christmas projections in Sydney, Australia.

LuminArtz is making a donation to The Massachusetts Fallen Heroes and would like to ask everyone to remember our Heroes during in the Holiday Season.

12th Annual Mayor's Holiday Special 

The twelfth annual Mayor's Holiday Special presented by Highland Street Foundation, and produced by ArtsBoston, is a two month celebration of the area's performing arts, featuring hundreds of great deals to over 100 holiday shows, dining deals and an online calendar of free festivities throughout the city. This year's Mayor's Holiday Special (www.MayorsHoliday.com) features all the local favorites including Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker, Holiday Pops celebrating Keith Lockhart in his 20th anniversary season, Anthony William's 15th Anniversary of the Urban Nutcracker, Handel and Haydn Society's Messiah, José Mateo Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker as part of their 30th Anniversary season, and Black Nativity presented by National Center of Afro-American Artists. Plus contemporary and nontraditional options are included like Elf the Musical presented by Citi Performing Arts Center, Disney's The Little Mermaid presented by Fiddlehead Theatre Company and Buyer and Cellar presented by Lyric Stage Company of Boston. Tickets for Mayor's Holiday 2015 are on sale now at MayorsHoliday.com and at both BosTix Booth locations at Copley Square and Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

"There's a reason why Holiday Pops, Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker, Langston Hughes' Black Nativity  and Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights at the Museum of Fine Arts are such popular traditions: we crave and revel in the shared experience with our friends and family that these holiday performances give us, and in the feeling of belonging where live," said Catherine Peterson, Executive Director of ArtsBoston. "Mayor's Holiday makes it easy, makes it affordable and makes sure there's something for everyone to enjoy." 

"Exciting, free events like "Lights of Boston" paired with world-class performances as part of Mayor's Holiday Special reinforces our region as a can't miss destination for tourists during the holidays," says Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau President Pat Moscaritolo. "Taking time to enjoy the amazing array of local, live arts offerings, restaurants, and hotels allows you to share an experience that is totally unique to Greater Boston." 

The Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment is committed to producing fun, low cost and free public events for Bostonians and visitors to the city and is proud to collaborate with Bank of America and Highland Street Foundation. www.cityofboston.gov/visitors